RHYLE Melencio is doing it all for De La Salle-Zobel in the 2023 UAAP high school basketball tournament.

Although the Junior Archers dropped to 1-3 in the tournament featuring the country’s best high school teams, Melencio has clearly emerged as one of the leading players not only for his team but for the entire eight-team league.

The 18-year-old Melencio, who is hoping to follow the footsteps of his late grandfather Rogelio “Tembong” Melencio and father Richie Melencio, is leading the way for the Baby Archers with impressive double-double performances in all their four games so far.

In De La Salle’s inspiring 72-58 victory over the University of the East, Melencio finished with monster numbers of 26 points and 23 rebounds in 34 mnutes of action.

The 6-4 combo-guard from Guagua, Pampanga went 9-of-19 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from the rainbow territory to lead all scorers.

Melencio also grabbed 23 rebounds, including 18 defensive, to power the Junior Archers to victory. He also finished with one steal and one block for +20 performance rating.

Before the game against UE, Melencio also posted a double-double outing of 17 points and 12 rebounds in De La Salle-Zobel’s 60-78 setback to Adamson University.

Against FEU-Diliman, Melencio produced a double-double outing of 14 points and 10 rebounds

Melencio is one of rising stars from a well-known basketball family.

His grandfather, Tembong, is considered as one of the Philippines’ greatest basketball players. He was a part of two FIBA Asia gold medal squads (1967 Seoul and 1973 Manila) as well the 1972 Olympic team that competed in Munich, Germany.

His father, Richie, also played for the national team.

This is the first time that UAAP high school basketball tournament is being played after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The last time the high school boys basketball was played was on March 9, 202– or a week before the lockdown– when the National University Bullpups captured their second straight title against the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 87-80, in a closed-door game at the San Juan Arena.